Smithers report predicts inkjet boom at 6.6 percent CAGR in post-drupa 2024

Graphics, packaging, labels, and books provide major growth opportunities for commercial inkjet printing, according to the latest exclusive data from Smithers. A host of the latest inkjet technologies will be on showcase when drupa 2024 opens on May 28, with new sales accelerating the industry transition to digital printing across multiple sectors. Detailed data modelling in the latest Smithers market report – The Future of Inkjet Printing to 2029 – shows that in 2024, global sales from inkjet printing will reach USD$117.7 billion. Positive market conditions mean this is forecast to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of +6.6% through to 2029. This will push overall market value to USD$162.1 billion in 2029, at constant pricing.

Across the same period, the volume of publications, graphics media, packaging and labels printed on inkjet will increase from 1.61 trillion A4 print equivalents to 2.29 trillion. These increases contrast with the broader outlook for print, where output will be essentially flat across the remainder of the decade. Smithers expert analysis dissects the business and technology developments that will fuel this inkjet’s expansion across 21 separate end-use segments and six press formats. Exclusive data on print output (value and volume), equipment sales, installed base, and consumables for 2019-2029 is given segmented by press formats as high-speed single-pass wide web; narrow web; wide-format flatbed; sheetfed; bespoke installations, etc.